Selling your home can be both an exciting and scary process. It is important to make potential buyers feel like they are going to be spending their money wisely. Most will feel much more inclined to spend money on a house they can feel secure in, and won’t have to do any major repairs to. Here are four areas of repair that usually require the most attention. Do these fixes before showing your house to get a better offer and a faster deal.
Resolve Any Plumbing Problems
A seller shouldn’t show a house or sell it with any kind of plumbing issues. It is arguably the most important thing to resolve before showing it off. The home inspector will thoroughly investigate the property, and if they find anything they will report them any potential buyers. It is crucial to resolve any issues regarding the toilet, shower, and all sink fixtures throughout the property quickly. No prospective buy wants to inherit an expensive plumbing bill or an astronomical city water bill along with a new house.
Repair Any Damage to the Roof
It may be an expensive venture to repair a damaged roof, but it is common knowledge that a lot of buyers will not even entertain looking at a house if they are aware of damage in this area. A damaged, leaky roof translates into a property with water damage to buyers whether there is or is not. Before showing the house, make sure any leaks are patched up, fix compromised shingles, and secure or replace missing ones.
Fix All Damages to the Flooring
Naturally, the first thing a buyer will look at when they walk into a home is the flooring, so before the property is shown be sure it is in top condition. Vinyl material tends to damage and wear out easily, so it might be worth the investment to totally replace it. A lot of people are fond of hardwood floors, but these can be afflicted with deep scratches. You can easily repair scratches with some steel wool, wood filler, and finished off with a varnish seal. There are a couple of options with carpeting. Old, tattered carpet should simply be ripped up, and it can be replaced at the homeowner's discretion. All regular carpeting needs a professional cleaning before showing a home as well.
Make Sure There Are No Problems with the Electrical System
The property's electrical system is another one of those major networks no buyer wants to have to deal with if there are any issues. Before the home inspector comes make sure the electrical panel will pass inspection and is not overloaded. Routine replacements and repairs to outlets, switches, and light fixtures need to be tended to. The biggest thing to watch out for is exposed wires. They can cause fires and electrocution, so make sure you have fixed any visible problems. If you have electrical components like a garbage disposal or garage door opener, be sure these are up-to-date and working as well. Other services can make sure repairs and done correctly and will last new buyers for years to come.
Anything else appearing unsafe needs to be fixed after these other four issues are under control. Buyers will be put off by a home with safety hazards like broken steps or loose stair railings. Check and repair all problems with the structural integrity of the house or there will be no hope of selling it. These areas of repair are the most important. By properly tending to these, buyers will have a much higher opinion of the home and the seller and it will make selling the house a quicker process.
About the author: Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most her time hiking, biking and gardening. Check out J & D Door Sales Inc. on garage door installations projects.